Ratchet mechanism for electric switches.



I J. G. PETERSON. RAGHET MECHANISM FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1914.

1 1 08,5 1 6. Patented Aug. 25,1914.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2.5, 1914.

Application filed time so, 1914. serial No. 828,231.

the following is a specification.

T is invention relates to ratchet mechahism 'ifor electric' switches, the object of the invention being the provision of simple and effective means for compensating for wear or unevenness in or crumbling away of the porcelain or equivalent'body of the switch,-

so that. under any one of these conditions theratchet can be Securely maintained in proper relation with said body.

lln the {drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification I have shown in detail one of the severaloonvenient forms of embodiment of the invention,

which to enable those skilledin the artto 1 practice the same will be set forth fully in the following description. ll do not restrict myself to this disclosure; l may depart vtherefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the su porting body of an electric switch provi ed with ratchet mechanism involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a washer hereinafter more particularly described, and, Fig. 4 is across section of said washer.

Like characters refer to like throughout the several figures.

My ratchet mechanism can be employed with advantage in connection with any of the existing forms of switches one of-which is illustrated in Patent No. 1,077,746 granted to me November 4;, 1913. lln the drawings l have shown the body 2 of said parts switch. This body maybe made of porce and some times the porcelain or other substance between the two crumbles or wears away, and in'each of these cases there is looseness between the washer and the ratchet to such an extent as to prevent proper action. By my construction I eliminate any movement of the ratchet and hold it rigidly and substantially against its seat under all conditions; that is it there should 'be wear or c-rl'lnibling' away at the place indicated, the means involving myinvention willfcompensate therefor and will also insure rigidity of the ratchet should there be variations in size of the porcelain body.

' Thenumeral 3 denotes a ratchet which is mounted on the ratchet plate 4 both located in the counterbore 5 in the upper side of the porcelain "body 2, the'two' parts bei-ngri'gidly secured toeach other by projections '6 punched from the ratchet and closely fitting holes 7 in; the-ratchet plate. Said ratchet plate-is provided at suitable points upon its rim with downwardly extending barbs or projections 8 fitted in sockets 9 in the bottom of thecounterbore 5. The ratchet 3 and ratchet plate-4 have central registering perforations to receive the upper end of the bushing 10 which is connected with the parts bybeing expanded as at 11 at its upper end.

The foregoing construction is shown practically in the Letters Patent to which I have alluded, and the invention does not in itself concern the same but in means for holding the ratchet 3 properly in place and for compensating for wear and unevenness as already described. The bushin 10 constituting a suitable connecting stu extends through a hole in the web or wall 12 between, the upper counterbpre 5 and the lower counterbore 13 its lower end extending through a central perforation in the washer 14, the bushing being held rigidly to said counterbore by being expanded as at 15 at its lower end. It should be understood that I use the expression upper and lower merely for convenience. If the switch be set as shown in the drawings these terms cases this might not be necessary. This washer is provided with yieldable means acting against the body 2 to constantly draw the ratchet 3 downwardly or against its seat which may be against the plate 4 or otherwise. Said yieldable means may be of any desirable character, although With advantage they consist of one or more springs forming an integral part of the washer 14 so that the washer, therefore, serves a double function. Said washer is shown having cut into its peripheral portion several approximately L-shaped slits thereby producing the resilient or spring tongues 17, there being three of such spring tongues and which in the construction shown have their free portions deflected upwardly. In other words the free ends of the spring tongues bear directly against the porcelain body 2 so as to apply a constant downward pull to the ratchet 3 and thereby obtain the advantages to which I have referred.

What I claim is:

1. An electric switch comprising a body ofnon-conducting, fictile material, said body having a seat, a ratchet to fit against said seat, a washer having several spring fingers slit therefrom, the free ends of the fingers acting against the body 'of the switch, and a connection between the washer and the ratchet to cause the Washer to constantly draw the ratchet against said seat.

2. An electric switch comprising a body of non-conducting, fictile material, a ratchet, the body having a seat for the ratchet, and a washer connected with the ratchet andprovided with spring means acting'against said body, to constantly draw said ratchet against said seat. 1

3. An electric switch comprising abody of non-conducting, fictile material, a ratchet, the body having a seat for the ratchet, and yieldable means acting constantly against the ratchet to draw the same against its seat.

4. An electric switch comprising a body of non-conducting, fictile'material, a ratchet, the body having a seat for the ratchet, a stud connected with the ratchet, the body having an opening for the passage of the stud, andspring means connected with the stud and acting against the body to draw the ratchet constantly against said seat.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J OHANN G. PETERSON. Witnesses:

GEORGE F. NYE'I'I, A. M. LAWSON. 

